REFRIGERATION DRAINAGE
BlueDiamond® Solution for HVACR engineers
Efficient condensate removal FOR Refrigeration Systems
Large-scale refrigeration systems, such as those used in supermarkets, require a reliable and efficient method for removing condensate. In addition, defrosted condensate and food juices also drain into the collection pan, creating a bacteria-rich environment. This mixture often leads to the formation of active biofilms—jelly-like substances that develop over time. If not properly managed or cleaned, the resulting moisture and biofilm build-up can cause significant operational issues, reducing system performance and potentially leading to failure, expensive repairs and public liability.
WHY CONDENSATE removal for supermarket Fridges is important?
Removes biofilm build-up: Refrigeration systems produce Biofilm, a jelly like substance, and when not removed properly it builds up and cloggs the system, reducing cooling efficiency, leading to system failure.
Prevents water damage and flooding: Accumulated water can overflow from the condensate tray causing water damage to surrounding areas such as walls and floors. In commercial environments, this poses a serious health and safety risk to customers.
Maintaining refrigeration efficiency: If condensate isn't properly removed, it can obstruct airflow and heat exchange, forcing the system to work harder. This reduces cooling performance and increases energy consumption, driving up operating costs.
Prevents bacteria growth: If not properly drained, condensate can harbour bacteria and mould, posing a health and safety risk to customers—particularly in high-traffic environments like supermarkets.
How refrigerator condensate formed
Condensate is a natural result of refrigeration, forming when warm air meets cold evaporator coils. This moisture collects in a pan and is usually drained away, but in commercial settings like supermarkets, dust and organic debris can clog the drain line if not maintained. Blocked drains can lead to leaks and create the perfect environment for biofilms—slimy layers of bacteria, mould, and algae that are hard to remove and pose hygiene risks.
Common Challenges
Flooding and leaks: Faulty, damaged or poorly installed drainage lines can lead to leaks in the system - including the potential health and safety risk this poses to customers visiting the store at the time of a leak.
Biofilm build-up: Biofilm is a result of bacteria forming in moist environments leaving behind a thick jelly like layer. Some pumps on the market struggle to pump biofilms due to its thickness resulting in clogged pipes, condensate build up and leaks.
Unreliable condensate trays: Low-cost plastic condensate drainage trays tend to have a short lifespan, often requiring frequent replacements due to their susceptibility to cracking over time.
Time and budget management: Most market solutions require a significant investment, such as installing network drainage lines beneath concrete flooring. These installations are often time-consuming and can restrict future store modifications due to their rigid, permanent nature.
options for Refrigeration condensate removal
DAIRY CABINET PUMP
Supermarket fridge cabinets often lack easy access to gravity drainage, making reliable condensate removal essential. The ArctikBlue® Diary cabinet pump offers a compact, low-maintenance, low-running cost solution designed specifically for commercial and industrial scale refrigeration. Built for efficient, continuous operation, the ArctikBlue cabinet pump delivers dependable performance with minimal upkeep. Paired with our CondenSense™ smart sensor technology for optimal system efficiency, it will only turn the pump on when required, adapting to the variable outputs made by fridges.
CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
While central vacuum systems offer flexibility in design and efficient condensate removal, they are also a huge upfront investment, costly to operate and to maintain. These systems use a industrial scale vacuum system to extract condensate. Although they provide a more effective solution than traditional evaporator pans, their reliance on a single integrated system poses a significant risk. If one component fails, the entire system can shut down, leaving no backup, resulting in total refrigeration failure across a store.
GRAVITY DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
While central vacuum systems offer flexibility in design and efficient condensate removal, they are also costly to operate and maintain. These systems use a industial scale vacuum pumping system to extract condensate. Although they provide a more effective solution than traditional evaporator pans, their reliance on a single integrated system poses a significant risk. If one component fails, the entire system can shut down, leaving no backup, resulting in total refrigeration failure across a store.
EVAPORATOR PANS
Some refrigeration units are equipped with evaporative condensate removal systems, where the condensate is evaporated within the system itself, eliminating the need for drainage lines. However, this process is equivalent to continuously boiling a kettle, resulting in high energy consumption and making it one of the least environmentally friendly solutions on the market. In addition to poor energy efficiency, evaporator pans emit contaminated condensate vapour into the atmosphere, creating an unhygienic environment for customers visiting stores.
OUR MOST EFFECTIVE solutions
To make pump selection easier, BlueDiamond uses a simple and reliable guideline:
- For every 1 kW of cooling, your system produces approximately 0.264172 gallon of condensate per hour.
- For example, a 10 KW air-conditioning unit will generate around 2.64172 G/hr of condensate.
Use this information to select the correct pump for your setup. Select the unit that matches the KW rating of your refrigeration unit to find the most suitable pump for your needs.
ARCTIKBLUE
| Max Flow: | 13.2 G/HOUR (48 L/HOUR) |
| Max Head: | 20 M (66 FT) |
| Max Lift: | 8 M (23 FT) |
| Sound: | 23 dB(A) |
| Unit: | 14.0-50.0 KW (48000 – 170000BTU) |
Available in UK, EU & USA
